Scientific Theories Are Objectively Justified - 2001 Words

Scientific theories are objectively justified (Couvalis, 1997) and scientists are seen as being able to gather and interpret evidence that can be concluded as scientifically proven (Ladyman, 2002). In the majority of areas in modern society, including justice, health and safety, scientific evidence is heavily relied upon (Ladyman, 2002). However, there are certain principles that are required for a theory to be scientific. For example, it must be justified by observation permeated by theories (Couvalis, 1997). In other words, it must be theory-laden. Moreover, scientific theories contain generalisations and one method for justifying statements with full confidence on the basis of other statements is deductive reasoning (Couvalis, 1997).†¦show more content†¦This will be considered throughout this essay with regards to the topics of addiction, genocide and expressed emotion in family communication. Rassool (2011) defines addiction as â€Å"any behaviour, activity, substance, object or thing that has taken control of an individual’s life-style, that is causing harm to the individual and family† (p4). The majority of us are exposed to a range of addictive behaviours that impact on individuals and families across socio-economic and cultural areas, and it has been argued that we now live in an addictive society (Rassool, 2011). Addiction is useful in enhancing our scientific understanding of human behaviour due to its classification via the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition (DSM-5), which is the standard classification of mental disorders. It is used for clinical, research and policy purposes and has a large influence on the diagnosis and treatments of disorders across many countries (Hasin et al, 2013). Another way in which addiction can be measured is using the Dependence Syndrome. According to Edwards and Ross (1976), elements of the syndrome include; i ncreased tolerance to alcohol, avoidance of withdrawal symptoms, compulsion to drink, and rapid relapse after abstinence. These measurements of addiction aid our scientific understanding of human behaviour because they allow for a more reliable and valid diagnosis, consequently impacting treatment and thus, enhancing psychologists’